Direct Model Reference Adaptive Tracking Guidance for Mars Entry

This chapter addresses the Mars atmospheric entry guidance by use of command generator tracker based direct model reference adaptive controller to eliminate the effect of the bounded uncertainties on atmospheric density and aerodynamic coefficients. The proposed strategy is easily implemented on low-cost, low-weight entry vehicle from a practical point of view, because it requires only storing on board a pre-computed set of DMRAC control gains and a reference trajectory. The feasibility and robustness of the guidance algorithm developed in this paper is validated by Monte Carlo simulation and analysis.